Playmaker of the Month

Wanda Cheeks

Wanda Cheeks of Spartanburg, SC is a tireless supporter of play.  A leader of Southside Unity in the Community, Wanda learned about KaBOOM! while she was renovating her first playground using volunteers. After that experience she crisscrossed the Southeast learning more about the community-build process and working to make Spartanburg a Playful City USA community. This past February, Wanda alongside fellow Playmaker of the Month Liza Sullivan, led a discussion amongst fellow play advocates at the Conference on the Value of Play in Clemson, South Carolina.  Numerous KaBOOM! trainings and Community Build projects, and four consecutive Playful City USA designations later Wanda is a true leader in the movement for play. 

Q. Why do you advocate for play?
I believe that every kid should play because it is the best way for them to stay active.

Q. What inspired you to take action for your community?
KaBOOM! was introduced to me by a Home Depot employee. Since then I have been inspired by the power of the community playground builds that KaBOOM! hosted in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. I recognize that KaBOOM! and Spartanburg’s efforts were similar and what they had in common was me. I was convinced that I was going to “KaBOOM!-a-tize” Spartanburg.

Q. What does it mean to the City of Spartanburg to be a PCUSA community?
Being a PCUSA recipient for four consecutive years since 2007 means a lot to us.  It helps us realize how important national recognition can be. The honor sparks questions, excitement, and generates new KaBOOM! Advocates. It encourages our entire community to believe in the efforts of our local foundations, municipalities, and local non-profits.

Q. How has Spartanburg benefitted from becoming a PCUSA community?
We were able to apply for special grants and we were able to meet other PCUSA recipients from other states during the celebration events.  A national family was formed.

Q. What action steps have you taken to advocate for play?
We trained under experts from the Mary Black Foundation, like my mentor Henry Moore, who was an ABCD method expert from Savannah. When Henry passed away, I began searching for new opportunities to use the tools that he had taught me. Searching the talents and skills of everyone in the community took a long time, but once I opened up, by sharing my stories about my own childhood, other people who cared about our children’s safety, health, and ability to play began to share their stories.  We partnered with our communities to advocate for play, doing this has expanded our volunteer base to outside our county. The momentum of a healthy community is a household name in Spartanburg.  Hopefully South Carolina will become a healthier state.

Q. What action steps would you recommend to parents/advocates who are facing the same issues in their community?
Never give up and visualize your community in a better light. Never forget the original dream and goal of your community. Communicate with everyone, even the player- haters. 

Q. What are you most excited about regarding the actions you have taken to save play in your community?
I am excited that through the KaBOOM! matching grant efforts, Spartanburg’s first community playground build lasted 15 hours in 2006, but after a few years of hands-on and webinar trainings, our last community playground build was completed in six hours. We have redeemed ourselves!

Congratulations Wanda, and thank you for all of your wonderful work helping to save play!